Dapat ituloy ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) ang nakatakdang parliamentary elections ng Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim of Mindanao sa May 2025, kundi lalabagin nito ang batas, ayon kay Senador Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Sa kanyang pagharap sa Kapihan sa Manila Bay, sinabi ni Zubiri na kapag muling pinalawig ang termino ng Bangsamoro Transition Authority, na nakaupo bilang parlamento, lalabagin nito ang Republic Act 11593.
“Yung postponement ng BTA [Bangsamoro Transition Authority] was a law. And very clearly in the law, nakalagay po doon sa batas na ang Bangsamoro Transition Authority will no longer cease to exist in 2025. In place will be the new Bangsamoro parliament,” paliwanag ni Zubiri.
“I feel it would be a clear violation of the law to allow the extension of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority by one more term up to 2025. But the law is very clear the next elections must be synchronized with the May 2025 national and local elections,” dagdag niya.
Nilagdaan noong Oktubre 2021 ang batas na nagpapalawig sa transition period ng BARMM mula 2022 tungo sa 2025 kaya naiopagpaliban ang unang parliamentary elections.
Sinabi ni Zubiri na hindi na papayagan ang panibagong extension upang madinig ang boses ng mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng halalan.
Sa ngayon, pawang presidential appointes ang miyembro ng parlamento alinsunod sa Section 2 ng batas.
Kamakailan, naghain si Parliament member Michael Midtimbang ng Resolution No. 631 na humihiling sa Senado at Mababang Kapulungan na ipagpaliban ang BARMM dahil makasasabay nito ang national at local elections sa May 2025.
“This postponement would provide ample time to amend BAA No. 58, the regional law that governs the creation of parliamentary districts. Currently, the law does not adequately account for the distribution of seven district representatives from the Province of Sulu to the remaining territories within BARMM,” ayon kay Midtimbang.
Sinabi nito na kailangan munang amendahan ang batas upang matiyak na pantay na representasyon at tugunan ang pangangailangan ng bawat distrito.
“By ensuring that elections are rescheduled and that candidates are given the time needed to prepare, we reinforce public trust in our political system. This trust is fundamental in a region where history has often dictated divisions rather than unity. By working collaboratively to amend existing laws and reschedule elections, we promote inclusivity and cooperation,” ani Midtimbang.
Pero, sinabi ni Zubiri na may kapangyarihan ang Bangsamoro parliament na mag-reassigned ng posisyon para sa Sulu at magagawa sa pamamagitan sa paghahain ng certificate of candidacy sa takdang panahon.
Isa pang puwedeng gawin, ayon kay Zubiri ang ipagliban ang pitong posisyon at ituloy ang Mayo 2025 elections.
“Pag nag reappropriate sila ng seats, we can have a special election. That’s possible. We can have a special elections, we can pass a law for the special elections for the new members,” ayon kay Zubiri.
Aniya, kailangan tuparin ng Comelec ang itinakda ng batas.
“The Comelec will be remiss, will be violating the law if they do not implement the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections this May 2025. They will be violating the law which extended the BTA. So yun ang problema diyan,” aniya.
Naunang inihayag ng Comelec na itutuloy ang parliamentary election dahil maihiwalay ang Sulu sa BARMM.
“Of course we want more time, but under the law kasi it should be synchronized. Wala nang may gustong extension. Meron din mga taga-BARMM na sinasabi sapat na yung dalawang term na binigay sa parliament in terms of pamumuno doon sa transition authority. Kailangan daw pakinggan natin yung boses ng taong bayan pag dating sa halalan through a democracy to elect members of the parliament and chief minister,” paliwanag ni Zubiri. Ernie Reyes
